stare



2 Sheets-Sheet 1. E. T. STARR.

ELECTRIC MOUTH ILLUMINATOR.

(No Model.)

No. 300,524. Patented June 17, 1884.

WITNESSES: H J W N PEYCRS Mum-Lcha q hm wash-rglulh no '(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. E. T. STARE.

ELECTRIC MOUTH ILLUMINATOR.

No. 300,524. Patented June 17, 1884.

FlG.5

u mafia "Mei-magma. wmmu m v. c

lhvrrn Srnrns ATENT @FFlCE.

ELI T. STARR, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE S. S. WHITE DENTAL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

ELECTFHC MOUTH-ELLUMINATOR.

ESPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 300,524, dated June 17, 3.884.

Application filed January 25, 18S4. (N model.)

To all 1072,0122. it may concern.-

Be itlcnown that I, ELI T. STARR,Of the city and county of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Mouth-Illnminators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electric lighting devices for illuminating the interior of the mouth, so as to facilitate dental operations. By means of my improvement strong light is carried into cavities of decayed teeth which are inaccessible to the rays of ordinary daylight. Further than this, those teeth which are plainly visible for inspection by good natural light are more strongly illuminated, and the cavities therein more sharply defined,,thus enabling better operations to be performed by the dentist than have heretofore been possible.

The principal object of myinvention, therefore, is to provide an improved m0uth-illuminator.

o improved instrument.

The minor objects of my improvements and the subjectmatter claimed are hereinafter par ticularly pointed out in detail, such subjectmatter being organized in the best way now known to me. So, also, the subject-matter claimed herein as of my present invention is particularly pointed out at the close of the specification.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in elevation of my improved illuminator with a portion of the circuit-connections; Fig. 2, a longitudinal section thereof Fig. 3, a similar section to that of Fig. 2 of a modification of the apparatus. Fig. 4 is a view of the rear or butt end of the illuminator, having a detachable pivotal connection with the circuit-wires. Fig. 5 is a view of a modified form of connection between the circuit-wires and the instrument which I have shown embodied in the modified apparatus illustrated in Fig. 3. Fig. 6 illustrates one form of a mirror-carrying device forming part of my improved instrument as organized in Fig. 1, and Fig. 7 is a similar view of a modification thereof embodied in the form of instrument shown in Fig. Fig. 8 is a detached view of the adjustable mirror forming part of my Fig. 9-is a sectional View through the instrument on the line 9 9 of Figs. 1, 2, and 3, showing the connection between the lamp and handle of the instrument. Fig. 10 is a view of the lamp-guard detached, and 11 a similar view of a modified form of lamp-guard having an opening in its side to allow of the escape of the light-rays in one direction only. Fig. 12 shows the incandescent loop of the lamp having a portion cut away or reduced so as to produce the light at one point of the loop only.

Themain portion A of the handle of the instrument is preferably made of some non-con ducting material-for instance, hard rubber or woodand carries upon its front end a preferably metal tube, 13, which permits the bulk of the handle toward its front end to be reduced to very small proportions while carrying the circuit-wires, so as to be concealed and out of the way of contact with external objects. Further than this, the reducing of the handle enables me to place the lamp out of the line of vision as much as possible. A preferably non-conducting portion or section, 0, is fitted to the front end of the reduced portion 13 of the handle, and to this section G the connections D for the lamp are fastened.

Instead of constructing the handle as above described, which, however, is for several reasons preferable, the handle maybe made of some insulating material tapered from one end to the other and split and grooved to receive the conducting-wires, and then clamped together by ferrules at the ends.

The circuit-wires may be ordinary insulated wires and pass through the handle from the terminals 0 at the butt-end of the instrument, the wires when they reach the first section, 0, of the handle being fitted in external grooves cut in said section at opposite sides, the wires in the opposite grooves of said section 0 being unprotected by insulation and extending a little beyond the periphery of said section 0 of the handle.

The lampholder E is connected with the handle-section G by means of a two-part connection, D, consisting of bent plates (Z d, as clearly shown in Figs. 1, 2, 8, and 9. These plates are separated at their ends, so as to be insulated from one another, the plates being conducting-plates of metal, for instance. The ends of the plates which fit or encircle the insulated handle-section G are united to said section by screws (1, for example, and as clearly shown in Fig. 9, so that each plate is in contact with but one of the circuit-wires of the handle. By this means it will be obvious that the plates d (1 constitute part of the circuit-connections. The lower end or base of the lamp, or the lamp-holder E, as I have termed it, is preferably cylindrical and is fitted in the seat formed by the free bent ends of the metal plates d d of the connection D. The terminals f f of the lamp-wires extend to the outside of the base of the lamp-holder E, and said holder is free to be turned in the connection D, whereby it will be obvious that if it be turned so as to bring one of its terminals in contact with one of the plates cl and the other of the terminals with the opposite plate d of the connection D the circuit will be completed through the lamp-wires and through the incandescent loop f thereof, so that when the current is flowing over the circuit the'lamp will be illuminated or the incandescent strip or filament brought to incandescence.

The incandescent loop or filament is preferably surrounded by the usual vacuum-globe, F. The incandescent lamp is surrounded by a protecting hood or guard, G, which is opened at its forward end, so as to permit the lightrays from the lamp to escape in that direction. Said hood G is preferably of non-conducting material, and is fitted to turn around the base of the lamp or holder, so that not only is the lamp or holder thereof capable of turning in its connection with the handle of the instrument, but the guard or shield G is also capable of being turned, so as in some organizations, one of which will presently be described, to throw the light-rays in one direction or concentrate them upon the spot desired. I

A socket, c, is formed inthe front end of the section 0 of the handle and receives a mirror-carrying device, H, the rear end of which in Figs. 2 and 6 is screw-threaded to fit the threaded socket shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or

to receive the plain cylindrical end of the mirror-carrying device shown in Fig. 3, in which form of construction the mirror-carrying device is held in the handle-section by friction. Said mirror-carrying device II is socketed at its front end to receive the stem 6 of an ordinary dental or mouth mirror, I, said stem being adjustable backward and forward in said socket of the-mirror-carrying device, and islocked in its adjusted position by, in this instance, a screw-nut, 2", which screws upon the front threaded longitudinally-split end of the mirror-carrying device, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or by means of asliding ferrule, i adjustable on the front tapered longitudinally-split end of said mirror-carrying device, as shown in Figs. 3 and 7.

In Figs. 1, 2, and, 4 I have shown the buttcnd of .my improved instrument as connected with the circuit-wires leading from the battery or other source of electrical supply by means of a pivoted joint or forked yoke, which permits the springing of the terminals of the circuit-wires between the outer ends of the terminals of the instrument and the engagement of pins on said circuit-terminals with sockets in the instrument-terminals, whereby not only is a secure connection insured, but free movement of the instrument permitted, which movement of course keepsthe pivotal connection with the circuit-terminals bright, and therefore in good conducting condition.

Instead of connecting the instrument and circuit-wires, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 4, as above described, an equally effective manner is to have spring-terminals of the circuit-wires to spring into the recessed instrument-terminals fitted in the butt-end of the handle, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 5. Of course it will be understood that any other suitable connection between the instrument and circuitwires may be employed.

I have stated that the lamp and lamp-guard were both adjustable axially relatively to the handle, and this is very desirable in some instances where the light is to be concentrated or brought to bear upon a particular spot. In some instances, therefore, the guard G is provided with an opening, 9, in its side, (shown in Fig. 11,) so that when the guard is turned around the lamp-globe the light is permitted to escape laterally only through said opening in the guard.

From what has been said it will be understood that the lamp or holder may be turned so as either to complete the circuit or break it, as desired. 1

From the above description it will be seen that I have provided an improved mouth-illuminator for dental purposes by which a strong artificial light may be thrown upon any particular spot or portion of the mouth, and that the lamp giving this light is out of the line of 1 1o vision of the dentist, and his sight is not impeded by any glare upon his eyes.

It will also be seen that the mirror, whic may be either an ordinary one or a magnifying-mirror such as commonly used by dentist-s, is adjustable baclgand forth, so as to secure the proper adjustment of the parts for operation in View of each particular case in hand.

Before stating my claim herein I desire it to be understood that this case is limited to the subject-matter specifically recited in the following claims. All matter common to my application filed February 11, 1884:, No. 120, 384:, for electric-light speculums, and this present case is or will be duly claimed in my said application No.'12 0,384, and a disclaimer is entered herein in favor of said application. In my said application No. 120,384 an electric lamp is surrounded by a non-conducting casing and by a non-conducting tubularcasing, which permits the light rays of the lamp to escape through an opening in front. These and other features common to that application and this present case, as I have said, are or will be duly claimed in that application.

I do not claim herein anything contained in Nitzes patent of July 29, 1879, which shows several forms of speculunis, the electric-light part of the apparatus being surrounded by a metallic casing, and a water-circulating arrt ngement being provided to keep the apparatus cool when introduced into the body.

I claim herein 1.. A handle for portable electric lamps, coir sisting of a main section through which the conductingwires pass, and a front insulatingsectiou fitted with an external lamp-holding and circuit making and breaking device, substantially as described.

2. A handle for portable electric lamps, having a main section through which the conducting eonnections pass, and a reduced front end, in combination with an external lamp-holding device mounted on said reduced end of the handle, and an electric lainp carried by said device, so as to lie close thereto, and a longitudinally-adjustable mirror fitted in a socket in the front end of said handle, substantially as described.

3. The combination of a handle, an external electric lamp carried thereby, and an adjustable shield or guard around said lamp to protect the eyes from the direct glare of the light.

4. The combination of the handle, the external electric lamp carried thereby, and an adjustable shield or guard surrounding said lamp, having an opening in the guard for the passage of the rays of light, the guard being adjustable, so as to direct the rays of the lamp upon any portion of the mouth or down the throat, if desired.

' 5. The combination of a handle carrying conducting-connections through it, an electric lanip carried by said handle, and projecting condueting-connections upon the side of the handle, between which the lamp is supported and held.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 17th day of January, A. D. 1884.

ELI T. STARR.

\Vitnesses:

P. Gno. VINSON, J12, Ro'n'r. 1G. Gonnox. 

